WHO has been Port Adelaide’s best “import” in 21 years in the AFL?

It is a purely subjective question that might throw up any number of different answers, but unquestionably it is one that will generate much debate among passionate Port fans.

Inevitably time will be the ultimate judge, but after an off-season in which Port Adelaide has invested heavily in players from rival clubs, it is a topic of much interest at Alberton.

What will the Power get out of the combined 844 games and 791 goals worth of AFL experience that Watts, Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Jack Trengove, Lindsay Thomas, Trent McKenzie and Dom Barry bring to the club?

The newcomers join a significant collection of talent, with 52 of the 169 players who have worn the teal and black jumper in 21 years in the AFL having played elsewhere before joining the club.

Among them are ten 100-gamers, at least four club leading goal-kickers and five John Cahill Medallists as club champion.

No less than 13 members of the 2018 playing list began their AFL career elsewhere – Ryder, Dixon, Ebert, Polec, Hombsch, Jimmy Toumpas and the seven Alberton newcomers.

But not every import has proved a success.

Statistically, there are 10 who played less than 10 AFL games for the club - Cameron Cloke (1), Paul Geister (1), Scott Harding (2), Jaxon Crabb (4), Jay Nash (8), Ian Downsborough (9), John Rombotis (9), Danny Meyer (9), Simon Phillips (9) and Lewis Stevenson (9).

Aaron Shattock (11 Port games) and Brent Renouf (16) failed to consolidate a regular senior berth at Port after premiership success with Brisbane and Hawthorn respectively, and Campbell Heath (12), Brent Heaver (16), Darren Pfeiffer (16) and Chris Naish (18) also failed to reach 20 games for the Power.

But who might be in contention for the top 10 Port Adelaide AFL imports?

Gavin Wanganeen – A 1990 SANFL premiership player for Port and the club’s inaugural AFL captain, he missed out on leading the Power in its first AFL game due to suspension, but went on to become a wonderful leader and player through the club’s first decade. Captain from 1997-2001, he ranks #1 in games played by an import and despite playing 127 games for Essendon before joining the Power is still 13th in games (173) and 14th in goals (138) overall. Also played 14 AFL finals for the club – equal fifth overall and most by an ‘import’. Won the John Cahill Medal after a magnificent 2003 in which he also finished equal 4th in the Brownlow, one vote behind the three-way tie between Nathan Buckley, Adam Goodes and Mark Ricciuto. Eleven years into retirement he still ranks sixth in Port’s all-time Brownlow Medal votes, and has polled most votes by an ‘import’. He won All-Australian selection in 2001 and 2003 and then, almost as if to put a defining exclamation mark on a stellar career, he was a key member of the club’s inaugural 2004 AFL premiership side.

Darryl Wakelin – Another Port SANFL product, he played 115 games at St Kilda before returning ‘home’ in 2001, and played 146 games for the Power in seven years to rank #2 among imports. A key member of the 2004 premiership side, he had four top 10 finishes in the John Cahill Medal, and only once in seven years did he play less than 20 games in a season – that was 15 in his last year in 2007, when he finished his stellar career in the grand final.

Matthew Primus – Arrived at Alberton as a raw 20-year-old ruckman who had been runner-up in the Fitzroy B&F in 1996 in his first season in the AFL and left one of the greats. Runner-up in the inaugural Port Adelaide AFL B&F, he had five top 10 finishes in a career which could have been anything but for the serious intervention of injury. He eventually won the John Cahill Medal in 2002. Officially the club captain from 2001-05, he led the club in 86 matches, but missed the 2004 Premiership through injury. He won All-Australian selection in 2001-02 and is the only person to have captained and coached the club at AFL level.

Jay Schulz – Ranks second in all-time AFL goal-kicking for the club, and was among the premier key forwards in the competition during his prime at Alberton. Having played seven years and 71 games for 58 goals at Richmond, he transferred to Port in 2011 and transformed himself entirely, kicking 275 goals in 123 games. Topped the Port goal-kicking four times, with a best of 66 in 2014 when he was 4th in the League. Shares with Warren Tredrea the club record of eight goals in a game, and also kicked seven goals three times. Finished top 10 in the John Cahill Medal.

Byron Pickett – Played 55 games for Port from 2003-05 but is fondly remembered specifically for one – the 2004 Grand Final – when he won the Norm Smith Medal in the club’s historic win. He had 20 possessions and kicked three goals, but also had a physical presence critical to the win. Originally from Western Australia, he was drafted by North Melbourne from the Port Adelaide SANFL team, and played 120 games in six years at North, including the 1999 premiership.

Paddy Ryder – Played 170 games for Essendon from 2006-14, and joined Port in 2015 following the Essendon doping scandal. Quickly became an important figure at Alberton. Missed the entire 2016 season due to the ban handed to 33 past and present Bombers, but returned to play one of the great Port seasons in 2017.  He was second in the League in hit-outs, won the John Cahill Medal, and was named first ruck in the All-Australian team.

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